How Spotify pays artists: engagement, rights and the rise of Spanish

Spotify has become the main player in the music industry, controlling 90% of the value of the digital market and relegating physical formats to just 10%. The platform does not pay artists for each play; rather, payment depends on the ability to retain their audience and on the level of engagement they generate with users.

According to Melanie Parejo Mcwey, Spotify’s Head of Music for Southern and Eastern Europe, artists establish a direct and instant connection with their audience through the platform. However, payments do not go directly to musicians, but to rights holders: one part goes to record labels and another to publishers.

The growth of streaming remains unstoppable and Spanish-language music leads this trend, whether it comes from Puerto Rico or l’Hospitalet de Llobregat. Although international artists such as Bruno Mars and Billie Eilish top the global charts, Bad Bunny is the most listened-to artist worldwide.

In Catalonia, the situation is similar. Names such as Bad Bunny, Myke Towers and Quevedo are among the favourites, but Catalan artists who sing in Catalan, such as Oques Grasses and Figa Flawas, are also present in the regional top 50.

For musicians, being on Spotify means gaining visibility and connecting with an audience actively seeking their music. The platform has become the playground where artists can interact and grow alongside their listeners.